Justin’s Pilot Reports (PIREP)

As an instrument-rated pilot, maintaining currency is a legal obligation. We’re all familiar with the basics of the requirement:

(i) At least six instrument approaches;

(ii) Holding procedures; and

(iii) Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigation systems.

…within the preceding six months. You see this section of FAR Part 61.57 quoted in many aviation magazine articles that discuss the topic.

Something you DON’T see mentioned very often is the requirement that the aforementioned maneuvers be performed under either simulated or actual instrument conditions.

This is an excerpt of Maintaining IFR proficiency.
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This morning I embarked on a solo IFR flight to the New Braunfels Municipal Airport to shoot an instrument approach there and to miss that approach and return to San Antonio Intl for the ILS Rwy 12R. Objective? Instrument flight proficiency.

The weather? Marginal VFR with ceilings of 1500 broken with a higher overcast layer at 2,300 feet. Here’s the actual METAR from the airport:
KSAT 141353Z 17011KT 10SM BKN016 BKN033 BKN250 27/24 A2997

With a requested cruise altitude of 5,000 feet I knew I’d earn some actual instrument flying time on this short trip. That was exactly the point.

This is an excerpt of ACTUAL instrument time.
Read the full entry.